FY 2026 Community College Administrator Program

The Community College Administrator Program (CCAP), administered by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), is a federally funded initiative that seeks to strengthen global vocational-technical education systems while advancing U.S. economic and foreign policy interests. Through showcasing the American community college model, CCAP introduces foreign higher education leaders to the operational and strategic frameworks of U.S. institutions, with an emphasis on workforce readiness, institutional governance, and public-private partnerships. For the FY26 cycle, the funding opportunity is listed under Cooperative Agreement DFOP0017811 with an anticipated award ceiling of $550,000. The grant performance period is 36 months, and applications are due by April 20, 2026. The primary aim of CCAP is to build strategic international partnerships that support American commercial diplomacy, reduce dependency on foreign aid, and promote systemic policy improvements in the higher education sectors of U.S. partner countries. Up to 20 foreign officials—comprising both government representatives and vocational-technical institution administrators—will participate in a maximum six-week program divided into virtual and in-person components. Programming will be tailored to reflect U.S. priorities and educational approaches, with participants engaging in a virtual academic symposium followed by an intensive two- to four-week academic seminar and a one-week executive dialogue in the U.S. Site visits, expert panels, and curriculum design sessions will center on developing talent pipelines, building industry partnerships, and enhancing program assessment methods. The implementing organization will be responsible for program logistics including travel coordination, housing, visa documentation, and enrollment in the State Department's ASPE health insurance plan. It must also manage participant financial allowances, organize academic content, and ensure meaningful follow-on alumni engagement. The design must incorporate U.S. foreign policy goals and demonstrate an understanding of both the American and participating countries’ vocational-technical education systems. Proposals must explain how participants’ exposure to the U.S. community college model will be translated into actionable reform initiatives in their home countries. Applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofit organizations or public/private educational institutions with at least four years of experience conducting international exchange programs. They must be registered in SAM.gov and hold a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Although no cost share is required, applicants are encouraged to propose cost-efficient models. Proposals must include an SF-424 form, executive summary, narrative, SF-424A budget, detailed line-item budget, and a budget narrative. Only one proposal per applicant organization is permitted. Program performance monitoring is guided by the ECA's Monitoring Data for ECA (MODE) Framework. Required metrics focus on cross-cultural competence, alumni engagement, increased job and technical skills, and enhanced understanding of U.S. values and systems. A Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) with indicators, disaggregated demographic data, and survey instruments must be included in the application. All MODE indicators must be collected using either ECA’s Qualtrics survey tool or another approved platform. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Time on April 20, 2026. The anticipated award date is June 15, 2026. Interested applicants may direct inquiries to Mary Johnson at the U.S. Department of State, Office of Academic Exchange Programs. Proposals will be evaluated on program design, institutional capacity, long-term impact, monitoring and evaluation framework, and cost-effectiveness. Preference may be given to applicants with lower indirect cost rates in cases of tied review scores. Final award decisions are at the discretion of the ECA Assistant Secretary.

Maximize cost-efficiency; Align with U.S. foreign policy; Demonstrate strong monitoring framework; Only one application per organization allowed